Silk Pilgrim Bag

 I'm excited to finally share this!

For a recent gift exchange with a group of friends, I decided to make something special for my recipient-- something that would serve her new kit as an 11th century Norman noblewoman well for many years. The idea was generally to use what materials I had in my workshop.

This is a reconstruction of an 11th century pilgrim bag, which were ubiquitous during this time period among the pious Christians of Europe. The design is seen in an 11th century fresco painted at the Novalesa Abbey in Turin, Italy, which depicts St. Eldrad-- a man who was born in France and made the pilgrimage to the site, eventually becoming a beloved abbot. St. Eldrad was wealthy before he accepted the monastic life; this fresco depicts him dropping his very ornate bag and accepting the abbey raiment. It provides a unique snapshot into the sort of fancy bag an 11th century wealthy European might have.

I based the construction materials on another bag which was found at York and dated to the 11th century, made of red silk and embroidered with a cross in a chain stitch.

The bag is made from vintage imported Asian silk, and lined with heavy linen. The cover of the bag is hand embroidered using the Bayaux stitch for the bulk of the pattern and a chain stitch for the borders-- both period appropriate methods. The thread is plant-dyed mulberry silk, the blue dyed with woad and the brown with a variety of nuts. It is hand-sewn together with silk thread, and the mouth of the bag is decorated with a blanket stitch in woad blue to match the cover.

Sadly, for reasons beyond my control, my plan for the strap did not come to fruition-- I hate to give an "incomplete" gift, but it was out of my hands! Still, she absolutely loved the bag, and is probably even more capable of making a beautiful strap than I am.

Looking forward to doing this again next year!